Art Deco Style

Hello again! Only a few more days till March break ends... but I've managed to have a nice, relaxing week filled with doing absolutely nothing - except blogging of course. 

The Chrysler building, amongst many others built in Art Deco style in NY

Visiting New York was really exciting. Not only was I in one of the busiest and most lively cities in the world, but I also got to see the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty, and my personal favourite: the Chrysler building, an icon of television series in New York. In this fabulous city, I learned that these amazing buildings were designed in Art Deco style. 

Art Deco sink in a relative's California home

After the 1900 Universal Exposition in Paris, several French artists came together to create the Society of Decorative Artists. This group also organized the 1925 International Exposition of Modern decorative and Industrial Arts. Their goal was to welcome all manufacturers with modern tendencies and artistic production. Art Deco style (1920-1939) was created under this influence, but the name was given when the book “Art Deco of the 20s and 30s” by Bevis Hillier was published in 1968. Art Deco was inspired by Cubism, Art Nouvaeu, and the modern Machinery Age (electricity, skyscrapers, etc.).

Art Deco inspired side table 

Art Deco was the first architectural style that became completely separated from traditional style. Art Deco buildings were avant-gardes for their time, and used zigzags, streamlining, geometric shapes, sunburst designs (on the Chrysler building), and influences from ancient cultures, especially Egypt (the tomb of King Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922 during the Art Deco period). During this time, numerous buildings, theatres, and ocean liners were built in this style. Hotel Royal York and the Avenue/Eglinton Theatre are two of my favourite Art Deco buildings in Toronto.

Art Deco inspired chair

Art Deco interiors were expensive and usually for wealthy people. They were built based on modern paintings of the time, and stepped forms and curved corners were staples. Ceilings, walls, and floors were usually divided by different strips of materials, colours, or light. Glass, leather, Tortoise-shell, exotic woods, and metals were used in furniture and accessories. The furniture was typically sleek, modern, and comfortable. The upholstery was usually velvet or animal skin, and pearl and ivory were incorporated in the furniture and accessories. The colour black was used in abundance to frame objects. Few colours were used in Art Deco interiors, but light blue and grey, with accents of gold or chrome, were usually present. Polished metal, lacquered and rich materials, mirrored accents, glass tops, murals, wooden floors, geometrically shaped patterned rugs were all common. Art Deco lighting was extensive, and lots of light sources were used, but they cast mainly warm orange and yellow colours.

Left: original Art Deco light in Toronto Design Exchange, Right: Art Deco inspired light at 2014 Toronto IDS

Sadly, mass production of Art Deco furniture resulted in less elegant and lower quality products, causing an end to the popularity of Art Deco style (and the beginning of World War II...). Nevertheless, the elegant style of the Art Deco period is reflected in furniture, jewelries, fabrics, glass works (Lalique company was the leader at the time), metal works, paintings, statues, sculptures, posters, graphics, and book illustrations. In fact, many designers still combine Art Deco-inspired pieces with a contemporary view to ground homes in a current day and age. These famous Art Deco buildings and interiors around the world will always keep this glamorous style alive.

I heart NY! xoxo